Aston Villa waste no time replacing Lucas Digne as Ian Maatsen stance becomes clear

Aston Villa are set to lose Lucas Digne to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

It has been a hectic period for Villa fans, who found out that both Digne and Youri Tielemans will be leaving.

The pair won the Europa League with the Midlanders last term, and are making what will likely be the final sizeable move of their careers.

Digne signed from Everton in 2022, and has spent the last two years competing with Ian Maatsen for the spot at left back.

After the pair rotated week in and week out last term, the expectation would be for Maatsen to assume duties as the starting left back.

But based on the latest transfer reveal involving a former favourite of Unai Emery's, the stance on the Dutchman may have been revealed.

Who are Aston Villa linked with as Lucas Digne departure nears?

As covered by Villa News, the transfer window has recently burst into life for the B6 outfit.

Now, Italian journalist Matteo Moretto reports that the Villans have made initial contact with AC Milan to sign Pervis Estupinan.

The Rossoneri are said to want around £17million for the defender, but Villa are aiming for a deal at a lower cost.

The former Brighton left-back played under Emery at Villarreal, with a move to Villa Park described as being "very satisfying" for Emery.

At 28, the Ecuadorian is in the prime of his career, and would surely not accept a backup role.

If a deal is to happen, then a similar situation to the one between Digne and Maatsen will surely be in Emery's plans, with neither quite grabbing the mantle as the main starter.

Is it time for Unai Emery to ditch left-back plan?

For two years, Emery has continued with the same dual left-back plan.

At the time of his arrival in 2024, Maatsen had enjoyed a successful loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, before signing for Villa in a £37.5million deal.

However, the plans of the Dutchman being the long-term solution have not quite come to fruition, and this would likely be the case again if Estupinan arrives in his prime.

Surely Emery has made his mind up on Maatsen now, and signals do point in the direction of him not fancying him as the main starter.

But he must move on from the chopping and changing, and either move Maatsen on to bring in a first teamer, or bring in someone to be his understudy.

Should Estupinan sign, the same issues arise that have been there with Digne for two years, unless Emery makes a clear decision on who his starter is.